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Dolphins too cautious with Lamar Miller?

The 2012 fourth-round pick is pegged to replace veteran Reggie Bush as the Miami Dolphinsí starting tailback. Miller showed plenty of flashes last year when he led Miami with 4.9 yards per carry.

But we haven't seen much of Miller during the preseason. The Dolphins have only given Miller nine carries in three preseason games. This is a player who could get as many as 20 carries per game in the regular season.

Are the Dolphins being too cautious with Miller?

Miami is expecting a breakout year from Miller as a first-time starter. However, it's hard to gauge where Miller currently stands when he averages just three carries per preseason game. Also keep in mind that Miller has just 51 carries in his NFL career.

I don't think there is such a thing as being TOO cautious during the preseason games. They can give him all the reps he wants during practice, but if they don't want him getting hurt during preseason games, I'm fine with him only taking a few carries. I think they really want to see who the third string running back will be and they want to see what Thomas can do in game situations.

If I was an opposing D-coordinator, my unsophisticated inclination would be to run-blitz every play that Miller is on the field. If it's a run, you'll stuff it, and if it's a pass, then you're making a much weaker blocker try and protect the QB for as long as it takes for the QB to get a throw off, which probably results in either a busted offensive play if not a turnover.

Right now, having DT in the backfield truly creates 50/50 uncertainty on whether the play will be a pass or a run. Until Miller shows that he can be even slightly useful as a blocker, he's a liability to offensive scheming, in my unsophisticated opinion.

The 2012 fourth-round pick is pegged to replace veteran Reggie Bush as the Miami Dolphinsí starting tailback. Miller showed plenty of flashes last year when he led Miami with 4.9 yards per carry.

But we haven't seen much of Miller during the preseason. The Dolphins have only given Miller nine carries in three preseason games. This is a player who could get as many as 20 carries per game in the regular season.

Are the Dolphins being too cautious with Miller?

Miami is expecting a breakout year from Miller as a first-time starter. However, it's hard to gauge where Miller currently stands when he averages just three carries per preseason game. Also keep in mind that Miller has just 51 carries in his NFL career.

Re: Dolphins too cautious with Lamar Miller?

Originally Posted by iamtiv

If I was an opposing D-coordinator, my unsophisticated inclination would be to run-blitz every play that Miller is on the field. If it's a run, you'll stuff it, and if it's a pass, then you're making a much weaker blocker try and protect the QB for as long as it takes for the QB to get a throw off, which probably results in either a busted offensive play if not a turnover.

Right now, having DT in the backfield truly creates 50/50 uncertainty on whether the play will be a pass or a run. Until Miller shows that he can be even slightly useful as a blocker, he's a liability to offensive scheming, in my unsophisticated opinion.

Unless Miller runs past the blitzers and get a quick dump off pass and takes it 50 yards. I don't think blitzing is as effective against rb's as you're making it out to be. If it was teams would blitz every down.